Four Seasons Hotel George V, palace on avenue George-V since 1928

The George V is a palace hotel built in 1928 at 31 avenue George-V, in the Champs-Élysées district. The American businessman Joel Hillman commissioned it. André Terrail, owner of La Tour d’Argent, whose mansion stood opposite, built it with the architect Georges Wybo, designer of the Deauville casino.

At the opening more than two thirds of the guests were Americans arriving on transatlantic liners, met at Cherbourg by the hotel’s own office. In 1964 the Beatles stayed here during their concerts at the Olympia, and Paul McCartney, who had a piano brought up to the suite, wrote Can’t Buy Me Love.

After the crash of 1929 Hillman gave the hotel up. The financier François Dupré bought it in 1931, added a wing and filled it with Flemish tapestries, Boulle furniture, a Renoir and a Dufy. After Forte and Granada, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bought it in 1997, with Four Seasons running it. It became a palace in 2011.

On avenue George-V the hotel has three restaurants recognised by the Michelin guide: Le Cinq, long led by Christian Le Squer, Le George and L’Orangerie. Tea is served at La Galerie, and the spa opened in 2018 has an indoor pool.